The Top 5 Benefits of Sending Hazardous Waste To Mexico For Recycling

One of the best kept secrets in the hazardous disposal industry is the opportunity that generators have to legally transport their hazardous waste streams to Mexico.

Many waste generators are frightened of the prospect of seeing their waste streams being hauled down to Mexico into landfills or worse illegally dumped in local communities. Common perceptions about doing business in Mexico are a lack of environmental protections, no environmental agencies overseeing the recycling process, corruption and lack of accountability.

Most businesses falsely perceive the risks of doing business in Mexico, but few take the time to explore the benefits.

Today, we will take a look at the top 5 benefits of sending hazardous waste to Mexico for recycling and discuss why it might be the best solution for your company.

It is not only possible to legally transport hazardous waste into Mexico for recycling, but Temarry Recycling has been successfully doing it since its founding in 1998.

Temarry Recycling is the first permitted company granted the legal authority by both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Government of Mexico, to legally transport RCRA, Non-RCRA and non-hazardous waste to their facility in Tecate, B.C. Mexico.

The EPA issued an Acknowledgement of Consent (AOC) to Temarry that certifies to the waste generator that the EPA has done their due diligence to confirm with the government of Mexico that Recicladora Temarry has all necessary permits, is in good standing, and is authorized to receive listed imported waste. This is a process that Temarry must complete each year to remain in good standing.

It Actually REDUCES Your Liability

One of the biggest concerns for hazardous waste generators is the issue of liability.

What happens when I ship my waste to Mexico?

The “cradle to grave,” process has been the standard by which each generator measures its share of liability. Waste generators in the United States know that they are responsible for their waste from the moment it leaves their facility until it is disposed of or recycled at a TSDF facility.

However, when transporting hazardous waste into Mexico, through Temarry Recycling, the waste generators liability for that waste ends at the US border. At the border Temarry Recycling becomes the Principal Responsible Party in the U.S. and Recicladora Temarry de Mexico accepts generator liability in Mexico.

Waste arrives at the facility the same day that it is imported. After acceptance, handling codes are applied in block 19 and signed as received in block 20 of the U.S. manifest. Generator copy of the manifest is returned directly to the generator within 30 days of receipt of the waste by Recicladora Temarry.

For waste streams transported to Mexico,the moment your shipment crosses the border this is the “grave” in the “cradle to grave” process.

It Can Reduce Required Paperwork

One of the more tedious elements of hazardous waste disposal is the reporting requirements required by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), specifically the Biennial Reporting Requirements.

If you are exporting your hazardous waste to Mexico with Temarry Recycling, you do not have to fill out the Biennial Report for waste being manifested to Temarry.

Once hazardous waste crosses the international border into Mexico, it is no longer under the jurisdiction of DTSC. It comes under federal regulation through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Because of this change in jurisdiction, and the requirements associated with the hazardous waste export process, hazardous waste generators can find relief from some of the regulatory reporting requirements of the DTSC.

Lifting or relieving this reporting chore is a tremendous benefit for customers of Temarry Recycling and an important one for everyone to understand. Once your waste crosses the international border, your regulatory requirements are complete.

It’s Sustainable

At Temarry this means using Waste solids to generate Energy to power our solvent distillation recovery stills on site. Waste is fed by conveyor into the primary stage for thermal destruction at 1700° F. All vapors and gases are directed to secondary thermal treatment at 1700° F.

Inorganic solids, or ash, from the primary stage is quenched and falls into an ash hopper. Heat is directed to a 200 horse power steam generator. Remaining gases are directed to a modern two stage venturi scrubber to insure that only clean water vapor is emitted to the atmosphere.

Steam is used as an energy source to power the solvent recovery stills that produce technical grade solvent products to be sold back into industry. Ash from the ash hopper is blended with high BTU still bottoms. Controlled blends are sent to cement kilns to be used as alternative fuels.

Certain waste streams like:

Flammable solvents including alcohols

Ketones

Naphtha

Paint related materials

Flammable mixtures with and without halogens

Also most organic solids with fuel value. Non RCRA waste including oils, oily water, antifreeze and latex paint, can be processed by Temarry in a very cost effective manner. All water based waste is processed on site receiving an H121 or H123 handling code for treatment or an H050 handling code for, “energy recovery at this site”.

Temarry recycles expensive solvents by distillation that are sold back into industry for reuse, thereby eliminating the need for costly disposal or inefficient fuel blending.

It’s Cost Effective and Reduces Carbon Footprint

Perhaps the most important concern for any hazardous waste generator is cost. This is where shipping your hazardous waste to Mexico truly is beneficial for companies located in the Western United States.

Shipping these types of waste streams to other parts of the country, is not only cost prohibitive, but creates a much larger carbon footprint than is necessary.

As the environmental impact of how the hazardous waste transportation industry effects the environment increases, the need for a low cost alternative treatment facility, close to a waste generators location, becomes virtually mandatory.

Because of Temarry’s prime location in Tecate, Mexico just across the border, companies will not only lower their hazardous waste transportation costs, they can greatly reduce the impact of the carbon footprint a business can leave behind, which is quickly becoming a real issue for many businesses.

Temarry Recycling is one of only a few facilities permitted to handle waste generated in the United States that can recycle flammable liquids for reuse.

For companies located in the Western U.S. the most common option is to transport to the Midwest for H061 Fuel Blending. H061 Fuel Blending is extremely inferior to H020 Distillation Recycling. Recycled solvents are sold back into industry to achieve the highest level of sustainability.

To determine the environmental impact for your business, we have created this Carbon Footprint Calculator for you to use to measure the impact that disposing of your hazardous waste streams on the environment.

For Western U.S. companies, shipping your hazardous waste streams is not only cost effective and sustainable, it’s good business. Contact us to learn more about exporting your hazardous waste to Temarry.